2015

The volatility we have been experiencing since mid-August is a result of the confluence of a market waiting for a reason to correct, substantial negative information coming out of China, and seasonal low trading volume. We have been in a strong bull market domestically, especially in the world of growth oriented companies. Although we have had some small corrections along the way, all bull markets require a periodic …

Focusing on capital preservation is one of our main goals in helping clients manage their assets. Over the years the average life expectancy has been on a steady rise making asset preservation even more important. It is estimated that 70% of people 65 years or older will need some form of long-term care (LTC) during their life.1 With a 70% probability that LTC will be necessary, one can build a solid argument for pur…

As investment managers, our focus is on trying to provide the highest level of return possible per unit of risk we assume. Because each investment account has a different tolerance for risk we need to be able to adjust and calibrate that risk at will. Historically this has been relatively easy, but as the world becomes more connected and countries more co-dependent, this task has become more difficult. What does this…

Have you noticed the air lately? Even with a full day of sun, it feels a little crisp and a bit cooler. The season has changed and here in the Pacific Northwest, we can be thankful for our gorgeous fall transition. The sky is blue, the trees are orange and there’s a gentle refreshing breeze swirling through the falling leaves. Fall can be a great time of year to get out and explore the Northwest. With cooler weather …

Five months into 2015 and we still don’t have a whole lot to show for it in terms of positive market movement, but although things have been pretty lackluster year to date it looks as if the stage may be set for moderate growth over the second half of the year. There have been many factors this year that have kept us range bound. Global market turmoil and stimulus, a relentless rising dollar, and a stall in first qua…

We spend much of our adult life saving for retirement. We plan and utilize different strategies to get us where we need to be by the time we would like to be there, continually reviewing and changing as life and our situations change. Our Social Security benefits don’t necessarily require the same long-term planning that our other retirement accounts do, but there are decisions we can make that will greatly impact ou…

In recent months I have been hiking and exploring places in our area that I have never been. We are fortunate to live in an area that provides such a variety of terrain. One moment you can be walking on the rocky beaches of the Puget Sound and later that same day you can find yourself hiking in a rain forest or on a mountain top. I use these outdoor excursions as a way to break up my everyday routine, and remind myse…

As humans, when it comes to investing, it is our default tendency to focus our efforts on the pursuit of large returns. We are more attracted to positions that have substantial growth potential, and we attempt to collect ‘winners’ one after the other, hoping that the combination of these positions moving in unison will result in an overall increase in our investment portfolios over time. This strategy can work especi…

The story so far this year has been one of volatility. The market remains uncertain about the direction of the price of energy and the cloudy future of the global economy at large. Domestic economic data and earnings although choppy, have generally been positive and overall conditions continue to remain favorable here at home. Last quarter we discussed oil, and the stimulative effect of a prolonged reduction in energ…

We have all been there, watching the markets fluctuate up and down, feeling the excitement on the upside and the fear on the down side. It can be difficult to continue to invest with confidence when markets are volatile. However, it is important to keep market volatility in perspective and not let short term market swings cloud your thinking or cause you to make changes that affect your long term investment objective…

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